Tony Becca ONE OF the interesting things about cricket fans around the Caribbean and certainly those in Jamaica is that they refuse to face facts.
Based on their expressions of disappointment every time the West Indies fail to perform, they appear to expect better performances every time.
They don't seem to realise that West Indies cricket is not as strong as it used to be, that it is not strong, and that despite the presence of some talented young players it will take some time before it is strong again.
It is either that or they are not willing to accept it.
The fact is that West Indies cricket is weak and until the fans realise it, until the territorial boards and the West Indies Board realise it and accept it, until all concerned appreciate that talent, or what is generally called talent, is not enough for performance at the highest level and that something must be done about it, it will remain weak - so weak that there will always be more disappointment than satisfaction.
PRINCIPLES OF BATTING
Once the best team in the world, the West Indies today are ranked ahead of only Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, and if that is not bad enough, although the West Indies are still better than them, when it comes to the basics of the game - to the principles of batting, bowling and fielding, both teams, certainly Zimbabwe, are ahead of the West Indies.
Those who doubt that have only to look at the West Indies in the field and how they approach the ball while attempting to field it, at the West Indies batsmen and how most of them lose their wickets, and at the West Indies bowlers and their lack of consistency in bowling a good length and a good line.
If they really take a close look, and then, for example, look at Zimbabwe in the field, at their less talented batsmen and how they apply themselves in an effort to bat long, and at their bowlers and their consistency, the fans will realise that despite their talent, their so-called talent, the West Indies players are not as good.
Is it that West Indies players are not as talented as they used to be, or is it that the players from around the world are more talented?
Neither is the case.
The problem is that while the West Indies were twiddling their thumbs when they were the best in the world, teams like Australia and South Africa - now the best in the world, were planning, preparing and developing the skills of their young players, and while the West Indies are looking for talented young players, are hoping to find another George Headley, another trio of batsmen like Frank Worrell, Everton Weekes and Clyde Walcott, another Gary Sobers, another Rohan Kanhai, another Lawrence Rowe, another Alvin Kallicharran, another Viv Richards.
ZIMBABWE NURTURING PLAYERS
Zimbabwe, like Bangladesh, have been spreading the game, have been encouraging the development of different skills, have been nurturing their young players, and have been guiding their development as far as technique and attitude are concerned.
While the other countries have a system a system that deals with development and grooming, but for a few clinics and coaching sessions every now and again for players who perform at the youth level, but for an academy which, with a few age group players in attendance for a few weeks each year, no repeats and no follow-up, is nothing more than a holiday, the West Indies do not have one, and without one, without a system to guide and develop young players technically and mentally, they run the risk of remaining at the bottom of the ladder in the company of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
If the West Indies hope to return to the top, they need a system, a structure through which they can encourage the development of different skills and fully develop the talent of their young players, for while the gods may smile on them every now and again, while a Headley, a Sobers, a Lara may appear out of nowhere, that will not be enough - not in this day and age when, in their bid to be the best, others are searching for talent, for players who want to be the best, players who demonstrate the desire and the commitment to be the best, and are preparing them to be the best.
WEST INDIES PROBLEMS
The West Indies, for example, have problems against good spin bowlers particularly when playing away from home on slow pitches, and they therefore need batsmen who are good against good spin bowling. They will never produce them, however, unless they produce good spin bowlers, and they will never produce good spin bowlers, certainly none to compare with Sonny Ramadhin, Alfred Valentine or Lance Gibbs, unless they encourage spin bowlers.
A system aimed at developing West Indies cricket, at producing a strong West Indies team, would certainly encourage the development of different skills, spin bowling is a skill, swing bowling is a skill, and even if they come up with another great set of fast bowlers, even if a spin bowler or a swing bowler cannot get into the team, the development of good spin bowlers and good swing bowlers would make the West Indies team that much better.
It would make the team that much better because it would be better equipped. The batsmen would be better against spin and swing, and depending on the conditions, the selectors would have a variety of bowlers from whom to chose.
Right now, West Indies cricket is just going from one day to another, there is no system, no plan to develop, for example, allrounders, spin bowlers and swing bowlers, no plan to groom young players so that they will develop the right attitude, and unless all concerned face the facts and do something about it, the West Indies will continue to struggle - even against a weak team like Zimbabwe and against an average spin bowler like Ray Price.
